HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-16 Recreation Committee Minutes Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes Ri V c D
TOWNCLERK
READMG, MA.
Board - committee - commission - council: 2019 JUN 19 PM 1: 43
Recreation committee
Date: 2019-04-16 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General- Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Emily Sisson(M), Mike DiPietro (M), Chuck Robinson (M), Kate Kaminer (A),
Mary Ellen Killion (A), Rich Hand (M), Michael Coltman (A)
Members - Not Present:
Adam Chase (M), Eric Gaffen (M), Patrick Sheeran (A)
Others Present:
Mike Wondolowski 4 Bartlett Circle - Reading Little League
Janet Faulkner 30 Eaton Street
Kerry Faulkner 30 Eaton Street
Joan Kingston 24 Pleasant Street
Chuck Neary 24 Cherry Lane Drive
Joe Appleyard 7 Smith Ave
Genevieve Fiorente Recreation Administrator and liaison to subcommittee
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Recreation Administrator
Topics of Discussion:
E. Sisson opens the meeting at 7:05pm.
E. Sisson elevates K. Kaminer and M. Killion as voting members for the
evening. C. Robinson makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes from
March 12, 2019 as written. M. Killion seconds. Motion passes 5-0.
E. Sisson welcomes the abutting neighbors and introduces Mike Wondolowski
from Reading Little League. M. Wondolowski gives a presentation on the
proposed portable restroom project at Hunt, Barrows, Joshua Eaton and
Tennis Court Fields.
M. Wondolowski asks for feedback from neighbors.
J. Faulkner from 30 Eaton Street states that the privacy fencing is
worrisome. She goes on to say that she thinks the location is in too secluded
of an area.
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K. Kaminer asked M. Wondolowski why this the desired location. M.
Wondolowski said that this is the location that he and the parks decided
would be the best. He said that he is not opposed to revisiting the location.
K. Faulkner of 30 Eaton Street states that he is nervous about the after
hours activity that the portable restrooms may bring. Some neighbors
suggest a fence on all four sides with one side locked.
C. Robinson suggests that RLL secures them after hours. M. Wondowlowski
answers that he has no issues exploring that option and also plans to pay for
additional insurance for the portable restrooms if vandalism occurs.
J. Faulkner mentions again her concern for security. She also states that RLL
have not been responsible in the past by leaving scoreboards out and by
certain participants of the league being disrespectful. She goes on to say
that she sent out an email 3 years ago to the RLL president about the issues
with parking, items being left out, and the lack of respect. She also states
that she came to the Hunt Park Playground meeting a couple years ago
thinking that it was for the field and it was not. She said she stated some of
her problems then as well.
M. Wondolowski tells J. Faulkner to please send along the email to him and
to address any issues in the future with him. He states that he would rather
overcommunicate to the participants when there are issues.
J. Appleyard of 7 Smith Ave states that he thinks the portable restrooms are
a great idea but he thinks the location stinks and it should be closer to the
playground. J. Appleyard asks how long the portable restrooms will be out.
M. Wondolowski answer from April until September.
J. Appleyard asks if there is any intention to replace telephone poles on the
ground. G. Fiorente says that is a question for Parks.
M. Killion states that she thinks it is a lot to ask to have RLL move the
location more away from the field if they are paying for the project.
M. Wondolowski says that the kids currently run all the way to the woods
from the bench so it would probably be the same distance to the playground.
M. Coltman asks about the possibility of having a bathroom in the snack
shack. Committee members mention that they think that would be difficult
to manage and expensive to do.
R. Hand enters the meeting.
C. Neary of 24 Cherry Lane Drive asks if the recommendation for the
portable restrooms can be looked at individually. He states an example that
if the Hunt Park portable restroom didn't get recommended could the Joshua
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Eaton portable restroom get recommended. The committee all agrees that
yes, they can be looked at individually.
C. Neary states that he thinks that is great because he is in favor of a
portable restroom at the Joshua Eaton Fields. He goes on to say that is a
step in the right direction.
T. Neary of 24 Cherry Lane states that there are still issues with people
coming down her street at high speeds and trampling on her property to try
to get to the Joshua Eaton Fields. She goes on to say that she has done a lot
of work on her house and cannot understand the disrespectfulness of some
of the participants. She states that cigarette butts have been thrown on her
lawn and also kids even ask her for toilet paper to use. She says she would
like something to be done to redirect parking as well and adds that the fence
is in disrepair. She mentions foul balls flying in her yard and onto cars.
G. Fiorente states that there will be a net put up this year to grab those foul
balls. She says that the rest of those items are out of the recreation division
jurisdiction. She encourages T. Neary to go to the police for parking
concerns.
J. Faulkner states that it is all about being good neighbors to one another.
She says that she is appreciative that the neighbors were invited in to voice
their concerns.
J. Appleyard asks who is responsible for the portable restrooms once they
are placed at the locations. M. Wondolowksi states that RLL would be.
G. Fiorente states that at any point if things were going wrong that the
Select Board could readdress the permits as these are on town property.
C. Robinson states again that his biggest concern is the security.
He states that they now have 3 field overseers and in the past only had 1.
He says he thinks this will help manage the activity better at each of the
fields too.
E. Sisson summarizes the conversation as placement at Joshua Eaton,
Barrows, and Tennis Court Field appear to be good and the Hunt Park
location may need to be revisited based on abutters feedback. E. Sisson also
states that the overall concern for security after hours seems to need to be
addressed.
G. Fiorente states that she is worried if the portable restrooms are locked
when RLL isn't there. She states that people may call her to complain when
trying to use the porta at the Hunt Park Playground.
M. Killion answers that it can be revisited based on how many calls are
received. G. Fiorente says that is fair.
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M. Killion suggests that there is some type of signage to be placed on the
portas on who to call if there is an issue with any of them. M. Wondolowski
answers that it is not a problem.
E. Sisson asks if there is any more neighborhood feedback before the
committee discusses.
K. Faulkner asks on why there wasn't consideration for a wooden fence over
a chainlink fence. M. Wondolowski states that it was because they were
trying to go with what was already existing at the field and the playground.
E. Sisson states there will be a 5 minute recess.
E. Sisson reopens after the recess. She states that the committee must now
recommend to the Select Board.
K. Kaminer asks M. Wondolowski to share his thoughts on the neighborhood
feedback.
M. Wondolowski said that based on the neighbors feedback that the
locations at Joshua Eaton, Barrows, and Tennis Court Field are okay. He
goes on to say that he can revisit a different location with Parks and based
on that conversation figure it out. He also stated that he knows that the
need for security and signage is a must and has no issues addressing both of
those points.
E. Sisson states that she thinks fencing on all four sides is not a good idea as
suggested by some of the neighbors. She says that she is worried that kids
may be inclined to climb up over and fall in and get stuck. Committee agrees
that just a padlock would be fine.
M. Killion makes a motion to recommend the RLL temporary toilets at Tennis
court Field, Barrows field, and Joshua Eaton as described with possible
revisions to the Hunt field location based on conversation with Parks. M.
Killion continues the motion to include providing signage and secured doors
on the restrooms outside of their play all to be managed by RLL
organization. C. Robinson seconds. Motion passes 5-0.
R. Hand thanks M. Wondolowski for accepting feedback from the neighbors.
C. Robinson thanks M. Wondolowski and organization for raising the money.
The committee as a whole expresses their appreciation.
E. Sisson says that she would like to revisit the Birch Meadow Master Plan
Subcommittee members until the regular recreation committee is at full
capacity.
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G. Fiorente mentions the two amplified sound permits for arts reading and
the old time baseball game by the 375Th committee. M. Killion makes a
motion to accept the amplified sound permits. M. DiPietro seconds. Motion
passes 5-0.
G. Fiorente states she has no pressing divisional updates and knows that the
Select Board is waiting for the recommendation. C. Robinson says there are
no RCASA updates.
K. Kaminer makes a motion to adjourn at 8:30pm. M. DiPietro seconds.
Motion passes 5-0.
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